Washing machine



INVERTER- l I I l L-J, I

B. E. GETZ WASHING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1923 April 10, 1928.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. GETZ, OF MORTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO GETZ POWER WASHER C0., F MORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COH- PANY, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application led April 14, 1923. Serial No. 681,965.

This invention has reference to washing machines, and particularly to that type including a clothes container or tub which is mounted for movement in the frame of the machine.

In its preferred form the container or tub is oscillated, but to those skilled in this art it will be understood that the movement of the operating means could be extended so as to impart an alternating rotary movement to "l the container or tub, so as to rotate it approximately a full revolution before reversing its operation, instead of a partial rotation, as herein shown.

The invention has for its principal object f to provide a controllable means for the tub moving means; such controllable means movable to different positions and adapted in one of its positions to impart movement to the tub and in another of its positions adapted to restore the tub to normal stopped position, without stopping the movement of the tub moving means.

The inventionhas for a further object to provide a controllable means for the tub moving means which is adapted to give to the tub a variable movement, such movement being under the full control of an attendant and being dependent'on the position to which the controllable means is adjusted. In one position of the controllable means movement may be imp tub, in another position the controllable means the tub is resto d to its normal stopped position, a varia e movement being imparted to the tub as the controllable means is moved or held between such two described positions.

The invention herein described and shown is an improvement on the generic idea disclosed in the application of Thomas Litwiller and John Leader lbearing Serial No. 4:42,- 336 (Letters Patent No. 1,460,203 dated June 26, 1923) and as to such generic disclosure a disclaimer is here made.

The present improvement resides in the controllable means, and in the inclusion of means for holding the controllable means in selective positions between its two extreme movements, whereby variable movements may be imparted to the tub, at the will of the attendant or operator.

That the. invention may be more fully understood, reerence is had to the accomarted to the i panying drawings, forming part of the de scri tion, and illustrating a preferred embodlment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my controllable means for washing machines, and operating connections between the same and a power means, the tub being shown in dotted lines in different positions, and dotted lines illust-rating the oscillation of the tub;

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similarto Figure 1, except that the controllable means has been moved from an operative to an inoperative position and the tub brought to normal posit-ion and stopped, without stopping the operating means, and

Figure 3 is a detail showing a means which is employed to stop and hold the controllable means at dierent oints between the extreme and predetermined points to which the controllable means may be moved, whereby variable movement of the tub is obtained.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The frame structure which may be of any suitable character, is only partly shown and then only in dot-ted lines; likewise the clothes container may be of any suitable design and so much of it that is shown is illustrated by dotted lines, full lines being employed to show the tub moving means and controllable means, certain positions of vhich, however,v are illustrated4 by dotted mes.

The frame of the machine includes a base member 1, and side members 2, only one of which is illustrated, and a top or cover member 3. Such frame, if desired, like many present day machines may also have a cabinet or enclosing casing, not shown. As a. supporting means for the container or tub 4, a frame 5 is provided in which trunnions 6 or other journal means may whereby the container or tub may have movement. In the present disclosure this movement is preferably oscillatory. The container or tub would naturally include an opening, not shown, through which clothin or other materials would be inserted into anfgl withdrawn therefrom, and such opening covered or closed, when desired, by a suitable lid or cover, not shown.

In Figure 2, the container or tub has been have a bearing,

restored to its normal position, or as some. would say returned to its neutral position, and stopped, the operating means continuing in operation, and the controllable means idling and without movement being imparted to the container or tub. In Figure 1 the controllable means has been moved to a position which will cause the operating means to impart movement through the controllable means to the tub, and as a result the tub is oscillated back and forth, somewhat as indicated by the dotted line positions of the tub.

By normal or neutral position of the tub, it is to be understood that that is the position the tub occupies when it is stopped so that the lid or cover thereof may be removed by an attendant to permit the removal of clothes or fabrics from the tub and the placing of other articles or materials therein. Also, by the use of the word restore I mean bringing back or righting of the tub to normal or neutral position at the same time that the operating means is made ineffective so far as operating the tub is concerned, yet 'without disturbing the movement of the operating means.

By the use of a mechanism such as I employ and which I am aboutto describe, the use of spring constraining means for returnin the tub to its normal position and for ba ancing the tub, are unnecessary and entirely done away with, and yet lthe attendant need have no concern about t-he tub being restored to normal position, as suc-h is the natural result when the controllable means is lmoved to discontinue the movement of the tu 7 designates a driving shaft, which may form a part of or be included in any suitable transmission, not shown, thru which power is imparted to said shaft from the usual motor, not shown. To one end of said shaft is connected a crank-arm 8. v

9 designates a ivot member which is preferably supporte by being connected to one side ofthe container or tub 4, and in spaced relation to the axial center of the tub. On said pivot member is carried a casting l0, forming a bearing member and being formed with a barrelor sleeve-like part 11 and a chambered portion 12. Slidably carried through said barrel or sleeve-like part of said member 10 is a rod or bar 13, its inner end connected with a casting 14 having connected thereto a pivot member 15 to which is connected a lever 16l fulcrumed at -17 to the frame 5. The outer end of the rod or bar 13 has connected thereto a casting 18 ha a shank 19 which is ivot-ally connecvti with the upper end ci) a pitman or connectin bar 20, which'is connected at its lower en to the crank-arm 8.

The rod or bar '13 is provided with a plurality of spaced seats or depressions 21 with which enact the ball member 22 located in ythe casting 10 at the lower end of the chammay be felt out by the attendant during the v movement of said rod or bar, .and very little effort orexertion on the part of the attendant will be required to release the rod or `bar andto move it to its two extreme and predetermined positions, one operative and the other inoperative.

When the parts are in operative position the member 15 is in axial coincidence with the axis of the container or tub 4, the rod or bar 13 having been moved inwardly bringing the casting on the outer end thereof'adjacent the casting l() on the pivot member 9. In such position of the parts, the rod or `bar 13 may be oscilla-ted up and down aroundthe suA pivot pin 15, as the connecting or pitman bar 2Q is moved u and down, due tothe rotation of the cran -arm 8; the thrust ot said bar 20 being substantially in the direction of the pivot member 9 on the tub and moving the tubon its axis, somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 1. `When the parts are in inoperative osition, that is so far as the movement 'o vthe tub is concerned, the pivot member 15'is in axial coincidence with the pivot member 9 and the casting 14 on the inner end of the rod of bar 13 has been moved to a position adjacent the casting 10. In this position of the parts as the connecting or itman bar 2() is moved up and down the ro or bar 13 will be oscillated but will idle on the ivot member 15, somewhat in the manner s own in Figure 2, and without imparting movement to the tub. The movement of the lever 16 which will bring the member 15 into axial coincidence with the member 9 automatically restores the tub to the normal or neutral position seen in Figure 2.

In addition to the advantare of restoring the tub to normal or neutral position and stopping its movement, my improved mechanism has the further advantage of permitting the attendant to movethe controlling' means to different selective positions between its two extreme and predetermined positions, whereby greater or less oscillation of the tub may be obtained. This is particularly desirable in the handlin of coarse and fine fabrics and clothing. ith such a controllable means as I have disclosed the movement of the tub may be radually started and gradually stopped an there 1s no jerking or jiggling of the tub as it is brought to a positive stop.

VVhatI claim is i 1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted for oscillation, a sleeve like member connected to said tub, a rod having a slidable relation in said member, a lever having connection with one end of said rod for moving the latter alternately to operative and inoperative positions, and during such movement to the latter position bringing the tub to its normal position, an operating mechanism, and operating eonnections between said rod and said mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted for oscillation, a sleeve like member connected to said tub, a rod having a slidable relation in said member, a. lever having connection with one end of said rod for moving the latter alternately to operative and inoperative positions, and during such movement to the latter position bringing the tub to its normalposition independently of the amplitude of oscillations of said tub, an operating mechanism, and operating connections between said rod and said mechanism. 'i

3. In a machine of the character described,V in combination, a frame, a. tub mounted for oscillation in said frame, and operating means for the tub comprising a pivot member arranged in spaced relation to the axial center of the tub, a sleeve like member on said pivot member, a pivotally sup- .of the pivot for said rod alternatel ported rod having a slidable relation in said sleeve like member, and means for moving the axis of the pivot for said rod alternately into axial coincidence with the axis of the t-ub and the axis of said pivot member.V

4. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a tub mounted for oscillation in said frame, and operating means for the tub comprising a pivot member arranged in spaced relation to the laxial center of the tub, a sleeve like member on said pivot member, a pivotally supported rod having a slidable relation in said sleeve like member, and means for moving the axis into axial coincidence with the axis of tie tub and the axis of said piv'ot member Without stopping the 'movement of said operating means.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a tub mounted for movement, a member connected to the tub, a rod slidably carried through said member and provided with a plurality of spaced indentations, a lever, a member on one end of the rod in pivotal connection with said lever, the axis of which is adapted to be moved alternately into axial coincidence with the axis of the tub and the member connected thereto, means to oscillate said rod, and means to engage in the indentations in said rod to hold the rod in different positions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afxed my hand this 11th day of April, 1923.

BENJAMIN E. GETZ. 

